Loose-leaf binder



I. BYSTROM.

LoosE'LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED DC. I5, I9I9.

1 ,42 1 1 26 Patented June 27, 1922` Unirse stares JOHN BYSTROM, OE'CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Loose-LEAF BINDER. i

`Specification of Letters Patent. i @attent-Qd June 27, 1922.

Application iled December l5, 1919. scrialNo. 344,822.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN BYsTnoM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, ofwhich the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in loose leaf binders and one ofthe objects of the invention is to improve and simplify the constructionof devices of this character and at the same time provide an improveddevice which will be strong and durable in construction and effectiveand eiiicient in operation,

A further object is to provide improved means for securing orconnectingthe various parts together.

A further object is to provide an iinproved spring construction by meansof which the prong carrying members will cause the prongs or rings to beopened and closed with a springaction, and improved means for seating orplacing the spring elements in position.

To' the attainmentV of these ends and the accomplishment of other newand useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in thefeatures of novelty in substantiallythe construction, combinationand'arran'gement of the several parts hereinafter more Jfully describedand claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating thisinvention and in which: I

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of an improveddeviceotthis character constructed in accordance withthe principles olf thisinvention and showing the prongs or ring members closed.

Figurer 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the prongs or ringmembers open.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the manner ofsecuring one of the prong elements to its supporting plate.

Figure 4L is a plan View of one of` the elastic spring links. l t'Figure 5 is 'a right hand-elevation of Fig-v ure 4.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the prong element supporting membersshowing .the prongs in section and showing the operating lever for themembers.

Figure 7 is a view partly in section and partly in end elevation.

'Fgure `9 is a side elevation of the yoperatinglever showing the mannerof connect- `l ingv it with one of thejprong supporting members.

`Figure 10 is a reduced view of the bottom of thecasing. y

Figure y11 is adetail reduced perspective view ofthe back plate; Y

Referring more yparticularly to the drawing the numeral '15 designates abase plate of a casing in which the operating parts of the devicearelocated. The casing also embodies a top member 16 and these membersare secured `together in any suitable manner such as by anging the edgesof the base plate over the edges of the top plate and the casing may beof any desired configuration in cross section. f

VWithin 'the casing thus Jformed are twosubstantially fiat members 117which are orn a length somewhat shorter than the casing.

These members are placed together so that i' A their inner edges 18 willstand in close prorr-` imity and these inner edgesare provided with earsor lips 19 adapted to overlap the other member to hold the edges of themembers against separation.y The outeredges or' cachot these members areprovided with any desired number ofrrecesses 20 in which recessesresilientlinksy 21 are adapted to be,

seated.V These links 21 are of a length to encompass ythe members 17 andwhen seated in the co-operating recesses 20 will serve to liold theedges 18 oit the members 17 together `for* pivotal action with respectto each other and also serve that when the members 17 are rocked withrespect to each other to impart a springaction tothe meinbers. The links21a-re shapedso that the ends 22will overlap and when it is desiredto'insert orplace any of the rings 21 in position intermediate the endslof the kmembers 17, this maybe accomplished by turning the ring in sucha'position thaty it will lie in substantially the same plane as theplane of the members 17 after which the edge of one of the members 17 isinserted between the overlapping ends 22 of the link and when the linkhas been passed over the plate, the link may then be twisted at rightangles to the member 17 so as toenter recessesrQB as t shown in dottedlines in Figure 6. The

recesses 23 are preferably spaced a short distance from theadjacent'recesses 20 and the edges of the members 17 intermediatev therecesses 20-23 are beveled or inclined as at 24 so that when the link isseated in the recesses 23 it may be forced into the recess 20 by forcingthe link over the inclined portions 24 of the members 17 until the linkstands over the recesses 20, at which time the resiliency of the linkwill cause it to snap into and be seated within the recess 20.

The end links 21 are applied in a similar manner; that is to say theends ofthe members 17 are beveled or tapered as at 25 so that the linkmay be slipped over the ends of the member 17 and then forced over theinclined faces 25 until they spring into the adjacent recesses 20.

Carried by each of the members 17 are prongs or ring elements 26 whichmay be of any desired size and configuration. @ne end of each of theseelements 26 is provided with a slot or bifurcation 27 to form the walls2S. These` elements 26 are secured to the respective members 17preferably in the following manner. The members 17 are provided in theirouter edges with recesses 29: opening through the respective edges, onerecess being provided for each of the prong or ring elements 26 to besecured thereto. Adjacent these recesses 29, and spaced therefrom andwithin the confines of the edges of the member are apertures 30 whichare in alinement with the respective recesses. 29. To apply the elements26 the bifurcated portion 27 is passed over the edge of the member 17 sothat the element 26 will stand within the recess 29 and will be spacedfrom the outer edge of the member 17. The extremities of the walls 28 ofthe slot or bifurcation 27 terminate in alinement with the slot 30 andthe extremities of these walls are thenl bent or deflected towards eachother so as to extend partially into the aperture 30 to secure theelement 26 in position.

t will thus be seen that with the prongs or ring elements 26 secured tothe member 17 that the ends of the elements 26 will abut when the partsare in the position shown in Figure 1, but when the members 17 arerocked with respect to each other, the ends of the elements 26 will beseparated or will assume the positions shown in Figure 2.

These members 17 are of a width to fit snug-ly within the casing formedby the members 15-16 and inasmuch as the prong or ring element 26 isspaced from the edge of the member 17 and inasmuch as a portion of theelement 26 will enter the slot 31 in the top 16 of the casing, it willbe manifest that the edge of the bottom member 15 may be flanged overthe adjacent edge of the member 16 for securing the parts together andthe extremity of the iianged edge will terminate short of the element 26so as not to interfere with the pivotal .movement of the members 17 orthe elements 26.

Any suitable means may be provided for rocking the members 17 withrespect to each other but preferably a lever indicated generaliy by thereference numeral 32. This lever is bent so as to form a hook shaped end33, the extremity 34 of which is preferably inclined and the lever isprovided with an operating handle 35. The lever is also provided withlaterally projecting arms 36 for holding it in position. This lever 32is loosely connected with the members 17 through the medium of recesses37 which open through the inner edges of the members 17 adjacent one endand combine to form a slot into which the end 33 of the,

lever is hooked. Then in position the lever will normally rest upon thebottom member 1.5 and the arms 36 projectinglaterally from the operatinglever will engage the wail of the casingto hold the lever in position.

It will thus be seen that assuming the lever to be in the position shownin Figure 9 the elements 26 will be in a locked position with respect toeach other, or in a position to hold the leaves in the binder. Bydepressing the handle 35 the plates 17 will be rocked with respect toeach other and the links 21 will impart a spring action to the members17 so that the co-operating` elements 26 will separate with a spring`action. In order to cause the elements 26 to assumo al locking positionwith respect to each other the handle 35 of the lever is moved in theopposite direction to move the members 17 about their pivotal edges inthe opposite direction, at which time the arms 36 will hold the leveragainst displacement within the casing and when the members 17 are movedthey willA travel backwardly with a spring action.

The bottom member 15 of the casing may be provided with any desirednumber of slots or openings 38 and a flexible member 39 such as cloth orthe like is provided for securing this holder in position betweencovers, etc. The flexible member 39 is secured to the casing member 15in any suitable manner and a back plate 40 may also be provided which isplaced adj acent the outer face of the iiexible` member 39 where itpasses over the member 15. This plate 40 is provided with any suitablenumber of prongs 41, one for each of the openings 38 so that when themember 40 is placed against the fabric member 39 the prongs l1 will passthrough the fabric and enter the respective openings 38 in the casingmember 15. after which the extremities of the prongs 41 may be flangeddown against the inner Iface of the casing member 15 for holding themember 40 in position.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction and in the combinationk and arrangement ofthe several parts within the' scope of the' claims without departing`from the `spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is i l. A device oic the character describedembodying a pair of members pivoted at their inner edges, oppositelydisposed and co-operating prongs carried by the respective members, oneor more resilient annular links encompassing the members and engagingthe outside edges of the members for yieldingly holding the inner edgesof said members in pivotal relation, and protecting means for the saidlinks.

2. A device of the character described embodying a pair of memberspivoted at their inner edges, oppositely disposed and cooperating prongscarried by the respective members, there being recesses opening throughthe outer edgesy of the said members, resilient links encompassing themembeis and being seated in the said recesses for holding the inneredges of the members in pivotal relation, portions of the said membersadjacent the recesses being inclined and over which inclined portionsthe links are adapted to be forced to enter the recesses.

3. A device of the character described embodying a pair of memberspivoted at their inner edges, oppositely disposed and co-'operatingprongs carried by the respective members, one or more resilient annularlinks encompassing the members and engaging the outside edges of themembers for yieldingly holding the inner edges of said members inpivotal relation, a housing for the said members and links and meansconnected with the end of said members for imparting pivotal movement ofthe members one With relation to the other.

4. A device of the character described embodying a pair of memberspivoted at their inner edges,'oppositely disposed and co-operatingprongs carried by the respective members, one or more resilient annularlinks encompassing the members and engaging the outside edges of themembers for yieldingly holding the inner edges of said members inpivotal relation, a housing for the said members and links, there beingregistering recesses opening through the adjacent edges of the saidmembers to form a slot, and an operating lever engaging in the saidslot.

5. A device of the character described embodying a pair of memberspivoted at their inner edges, oppositely disposed and co-operatingprongs carried by the respective members, one or more resilient annularlinks encompassing the members and engaging the outside edges of themembers for yieldingly holding the inner edges of said members inpivotal relation, a casing enclosing said members andsaid links, saidmembers having registering openings through the adjacent edges of the`said members to form a slot'an operating lever extending into thecasing and engaging in the said slot, and laterally projecting arms onthe lever and engaging the casing wall for maintaining the said lever inposition. 6. A device of the character described embodying a pair ofmembers pivoted at their inner edges, oppositely disposed andco-ope'rating prongs carried by the respective members, one or moreresilient annular links encompassing the members and engaging theoutside edges of the members for yieldingly holding the inner edges ofsaid members in pivotal relation, a casing enclosing said member andsaid'links, an operating lever extending into one end of the casing andhaving a loose connection with the said members Jfor shifting them, andmeans connected with the lever and co-operating with the said casingwall for maintaining the said lever in position. i

7. A device of the character described embodying a substantially flatmember having an aperture adjacent but within the connes of one of itsedges, a prong element carried by the said member, one end of the prongelement being slotted to receive one Cil edge of the said member, theextremity of the slotted end of the prong element terminating inalinement with the aperture in the member, the walls of the slot beingdeflected towards each other and into the said aperture for securing theprong element to the said member.

' 8. A device of the character described embodying a substantially Hatmember having an aperture' adjacent but within the conlines of one ofits edges, a prong element carried by the said member, oneend of theprong element being slotted to receive one edge of the said member, theextremity of the slotted end of the prong element terminating inalinement with the aperture in the member, the walls of the slot beingdeflected towards each other and into thesaid aperture `for securing theprong element to the lsaid member, the edge of the said member adjacentthe said aperture being recessed to receive a portion of thebody of thesaid prong element, whereby the prong element will be disposed entirelywithin the confines of the said edge of the said spaced from said edge.

9. A device of the character described embodying a casing, prongcarrying members within the casing, co-operating prong elements carriedby the said members and ex- 125 tending through and beyond the casing,resilient annular members encompassing and bearing upon the outer edgesof said members, one wall of the casing having an aperture therethrough,a back plate, a flexible 1.30

member and element arranged between the said epertured.

teenies Within the housing, encompassing the first said members and4exerting a stress thereupon and from their outer edges, the saidpiong-earrying members being formed for holding said annular membersagainst displacement with respect to the first recited members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, onthis 13th day of December, A. D. 1919.

J B'YSTROM,

